Pneumatic track-sander



. -Model.) V

P.M..DEAN- PNEUMATIC TRACK SANDER.

Patented July 14, 1896.

Y ummmum-W PATENT FFICEe FRANCIS M. DEAN, OF HURON, SOUTH DAKOTA.

PNEUMATIC TRACK-SANDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of.Letters Patent No. 563,751, dated July 1%,1896.

Application filed April 13, 1896. Serial No. 587,293. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, FRANCIS M. DEAN, re-' siding at Huron, in the countyof Beadle and State of South Dakota, have invented a PneumaticTrack-Sander, of which the following is a specification.

My invention, which is an improvement upon that patented to me February4, 1896, No. l,056, relates to track-sanding devices which are operatedby means of fluid-pressure under the control of the locomotive engineeror other opera-tor, and its particular object is to prevent anyliability whatever of the blast-nozzle and passages becoming filled andclogged with sand by reason of the move ment and jolting of thelocomotive, so as to render the device inoperative.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a section taken through the cage and nozzleand the siphonshaped pipe connecting with the usual discharge-pipe; Fig.2, a section on line 2 of Fig. 1, showing the shape of the needle orstem; and Fig. 3, a sectional view of amoditied form.

As shown in my former patent there is within the usual sand-box a pairof siphonshaped pipes and a pair of cages at the end thereof into whichsand is drawn and ejected finally through discharge-pipes by the actionof the air from the blast-nozzles. In the present case I have shown onlyone cage and one of such siphon-shaped pipes, but it will be understoodthat a pair of each is preferably employed.

The siphonshaped pipe A connects at one end with a sanddischarge pipeand at the other with the cage B, within Whichis'arranged a blast-nozzleG. This nozzle communicates with an interior chamber 0, into whichenters an air-pressuresupply pipe K, connected to a supply of air orother fluid pressure under control of the engineer.

In order to normally close the orifice and passage in the nozzle toprevent the entrance of sand into the chamber and supply-pipes whichwould eventually clog and obstruct the passage of air, I employ aspring-pressed needle or stem D, which carries at its lower end adiaphragm E, of flexible or other suitable material, having the requiredspring or flexibility. This diaphragm may be removably or otherwisemounted on the needle or Valve-stem. As shown, it is arranged betweentwo washers on either side thereof and held. against a set-nut (Z byscrewing up a not (7 upon the end of the valvestein.

The edge of the diaphragm is held against an annular flange or shoulderZ) by means of a plug 1. which screws into the hollow bottom or baseportion of the cage. This plug is provided with a pocket adapted toreceive a suitable spring G, which bears, respectively, upon the bottomof the pocket and against the washer on the diaphragm whereby the needleis forced upward and its end seated in the nozzle-passage to close thesame. The top surface of the plug is beveled inward from the edges inorder to accommodate the movement of the diaphragm, as hereinafterexplained.

It is understood that the spring is of the proper predetermined tensionin order that the diaphragm and needle may be operated by thefiuidpressure in the manner desired.

As clearly illustrated in Fig. 2, the needle is preferably triangular incross-section except at the end or point, so as to allow theiiuidpressure to pass freely thereby through the passage in the nozzle.It is sufficient if the needle is flattened on one side only, or ifother ways are adopted for providing a suitable passage for the pressurethrough the nozzle-passage and past the needle.

. My sanding device being constructed as hereinbefore set forth operatesas follows: The parts being in the normal position shown in Fig. 1,fluid-pressure is admitted by the engineer or operator throughsupply-pipe K into chamber 0, whereupon the diaphragm is forced downwardagainst the tension of the spring. The needle or stem is consequentlywithdrawn and a free passage made through the nozzle. The sand is suckedinto the cages and ejected through the discharge-pipes in a mannersimilar to that described in my former patent. cut off, the springrestores the diaphragm to normal position and closes the orifice.

In Fig. 3 I have shown another form of construction in which. thesimilar parts are designated by the same referenceletters but primed. Inthis form I employ what I term a cleaning-needle H and secure it to adiaphragm E. A cup or cup-nut J screws upon hen the pressure supply isthe needle and is provided with a suitable number of openings jj. Thecup is of such a height that it strikes against the top of the interiorchamber 0 and prevents the needle from seating and from entirely closingthe nozzle-orifi ce. This cup may be adjusted up or down upon the needlefor regulating the degree of opening made thereby in the nozzle passage.hen fluid -pressure is admitted, it will pass through the holesj and outthrough the nozzle-orifice without disturbing or moving the diaphragm,but if sand should accumulate or become clogged and wedged in theorifice and around the cleaning-needle by reason of the jarring of thelocomotive or otherwise, so as to obstruct the passage of fluid, theincreased pressure will operate upon the diaphragm to cause it towithdraw the needle and leave the clogged sand free to be blown out bythe blast and the passage to be thereby cleaned. As soon as the sand isthus free from the orifice and needle, the diaphragm and also the needleand cup will be restored automatically to normal position and sufficientpressure will be allowed to pass by the needle for ordinary sanding. Anysand which may have accumulated in the cup J is carried out by the blastat the same time. If a large amount of sand should be required for extrasanding, the increased pressure employed would move the diaphragm andwithdraw the cleaning-needle and move the cup downward to allow free andample passage of the fluid-pressure without requiring it to pass throughthe holes j. The nozzle-passage is always open in this form ofconstruction to a sufficient extent to allow of ordinary sanding and theneedle is operated whenever the orifice becomes clogged or heavypressure is admitted. I thus provide a positive and efficient sanderwhich is economical in the use of sand and under the full control of theengineer. Moreover, by the employment of the improvements, the device isrendered absolutely reliable in operation under all conditions, as allliability of the clogging and obstruction of the passages is removed.

Although I have described more or less precise forms and details ofconstruction, I do not intend to'be understood as limiting myselfthereto, as I contemplate changes in form, the proportion of parts andthe substitution of equivalents as circumstances may suggest or renderexpedient and without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim 1. In a track-sander, the combination, with a sand-box and itsdischargepipe, of a blastnozzle, the pressure from which is adapted toeject sand from the box through the dischargepipe and a needle locatedin the nozzle-passage and controlled by the air-pressure.

2. In a track-sander, the combination, with a sand-box and itsdischargepipe, of a nozzle, a source of fluid-pressure in communicationtherewith, a needle or stem within the nozzlepassage and a flexiblediaphragm secured to one end of the stem and influenced by the Illlli lpressure.

3. In a track-sander, the combination of a fluid-pressure bl ast-nozzle,aconnection therefor with a suitable source of fluid-pressure. a needleoperating in the nozzle-passage and means connected to the needle foroperatin the same by the pressure of the blast.

a. In a track-sander, the combination, wii h a sand-box, of ablast-nozzle within the box. a connection therefor with a suitablesource or fluid pressure,a needle operating in the nozzlepassage, aflexible diaphragm connected to the needle and influenced by thefluid-pressure and means for holding the needle and diaphragm in normalposition.

5. In a track-sander, the combination, with a sand-box and its dischargepipemf a cage arranged in the sand-box and having an interior chamber, aconnecting-passage between the cage and discharge-pipe, an air-blastnozzle in the cage communicating through the interior chamber with asource of air-pressure, a flexible diaphragm arranged in the chamber anda needle carried by the diaphragm and operating in the blast-nozzlepassage.

6. In a track-sander, the combination, with a sand-box and itsdischarge-pipe, of a cage communicatin gwith the discharge-pipewithiuthe box and provided with an interior chamber c,a blast-nozzle in thecage communicating with the interior chamber, a connection between asource of fluid-pressure and the in re rior chamber, a needle or stemgoverning the nozzle-passage, a diaphragm connected to the end of theneedle and influenced by the fluidpressure and a spring arranged on theopposite side of the diaphragm from that exposed to th e fluid-pressureand adapted to keep the diaphragm in normal position.

7. In a track-sander, the combination, with a sand-box and its disch(rgepipe, of an airblast nozzle, the air-pressure from which. is adaptedto eject sand from the box thron gh th e discharge-pipe, a needleoperating in the nozzle-passage, the body of such needle being flattenedon one or more of its sides to permit the passage of air, and meansconnected to the needle for operating the same and under the control ofthe air-pressure.

S. In a track-sander, the combination with a sand-box and itsdischarge-pipe of an airnozzle, a suitable source of pressure, aconnection therefrom to the nozzle, the air-pressure from the nozzlebeing adapted to eject sand from the box through the discharge-pi pe. aneedle or stem working in the nozzle-passage and adapted to normallyclose the same and a diaphragm connected to the stem and controlled bythe air-pressure to operate he stem.

9. In a track-sander, the combination with a sand-box and itsdischarge-pipe of a cage arranged in the sand-box and having an upperchamber with openings in the side thereof and having ahollow base, acup-shaped plug adapted to fit in the hollow base to form an interiorchamber 0 communicating with a source of fluid-pressure, a passagebetween the interior chamber and upper chamber, a needle or stem adaptedto normally close said passage, a flexible diaphragm clamped by the plugagainst the base portion and secured to the end of the stem and a springarranged in the hollow portion of the plug and pressing against thediaphragm to seat the stem and close the passage whereby when pressureis admitted the diaphragm will be caused to be moved against the tensionof the spring to open the passage.

10. In a track-sander, the combination with a sand-boxand itsdischarge-pipe of a cage 13 arranged in the box and having a hollow baseportion, a cup-shaped plug F adapted to screw part Way in the baseportion to form an in terior chamber 0, a connection between a suitablesource of fluid-pressure and the interior chamber, a blast-nozzle Ccommunicating with the interior chamber, a needle or stem D working inthe nozzle-passage, a flexible diaphragm connected to the stem and aspring G arranged in the plug and forcing the diaphragm upward to seatthe stem and close the nozzle-passage.

FRANCIS M. DEAN. lVitnesses \VALDO B. Gnome JOHN T. Home.

